Thirty-five years ago, a British wine merchant named Steven Spurrier organized a wine competition in Paris, where he pitted California's best Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons against the best wines that France had to offer.

“Just a little bit.” Those are four words every mother wants to hear from her teenage daughters on a beautiful spring day in answer to the question “Do you have homework?” Those were the words I heard this bright and beautiful Sunday morning, which meant they had time to do something else today. My garden was calling to me and because of some current health issues, I needed some able bodies out there to do what I couldn’t.

Motorists who drive State Route 161 through Graham will want to pay especially close attention to their rate of travel, because starting next week the speed limit on a section of the roadway will be reduced from 50 mph to 45 mph.

Because the gas company was initially funded by public debt—a bond voted in by 1950s era citizens—its sale must be approved by voters. Additionally, staff would need to put out a public proposal of sale, and the city will be required to hold public hearings on possible sales.

Well, I can’t remember the exact day or week it started, but it was sometime last September. Initially, it was a handful of unemployed college grads, parading down Wall Street carrying novel protest signs: “We’re the 99 percent,” “Can I get bailed out?” and “Do you feel it trickle down?”

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced there will be a statewide burn ban on all DNR-protected lands July 1, 2012, through September 30, 2012. This means all forestlands in Washington under DNR fire protection; the burn ban does not apply to federal lands.